isc logo  

Daily News Summary
13 October 2023

Letters: Labour's pledge to add VAT to school fees will 'penalise children'
Labour's school tax plans: 'Could we help them achieve their aims without pursuing a damaging policy?'
Three Jewish schools in London close amid security concerns
Warning from 12-year-old girl who suffered collapsed lung from vaping
Pupils need one healthy school meal a day, say EU officials
Diversify curriculum by featuring rap and grunge in music lessons, schools told

Letters: Labour's pledge to add VAT to school fees will 'penalise children'

 

Two readers write to The Times to share their views on Labour’s plans to add VAT to independent school fees. One warns that the policy would "penalise children and their educational needs while damaging a successful part of our economy". The second contributor considers the impact of the policy on bursaries for low-income families. The letters appear halfway down the page.

 
The Times

Labour's school tax plans: 'Could we help them achieve their aims without pursuing a damaging policy?'

 

Writing in Independent School Management Plus, head of Redmaids' High School Paul Dwyer calls for the Labour Party to reconsider its tax plans for independent schools. To achieve Labour's aim of boosting state education, Mr Dwyer says “there are a few areas that seem in easy reach that could be explored more meaningfully”.

 
Independent School Management Plus

Three Jewish schools in London close amid security concerns

 

Three north London Jewish schools have closed for the day, with some citing safety concerns in relation to planned protests in support for Palestinians. The Community Security Trust, a charity providing security advice for British Jews, said schools should remain open. By Harry Farley, BBC News.

 
BBC

Warning from 12-year-old girl who suffered collapsed lung from vaping

 

Sarah Griffin, a 12-year-old girl who was a heavy vaper, has warned other children against taking up the habit after she suffered a collapsed lung and was placed in an induced coma for four days. Health secretary Steve Barclay recently announced plans to restrict the sale of vapes and to introduce plain packaging. By Steven Swinford and Poppy Koronka, The Times.

 
The Times

Pupils need one healthy school meal a day, say EU officials

 

A coalition of experts has said children across Europe must receive at least one nutritious school meal a day if governments are serious about tackling a rise in obesity rates, preventing chronic illnesses and reducing social inequalities. By Sam Jones, The Guardian.

 
The Guardian

Diversify curriculum by featuring rap and grunge in music lessons, schools told

 

Rap and 1990s grunge should be taught in music lessons as part of a “diverse curriculum”, according to representatives from Oak National Academy, a body funded by the Department for Education (DfE) that provides online teaching resources. Secondary school pupils could be taught about 2Pac, 50 Cent, Eminem, Nirvana and Pearl Jam alongside classical music composers, although specific artists on the curriculum are yet to be confirmed. By Louisa Clarence-Smith, The Telegraph. 

 
The Telegraph

 

The Independent Schools Council (ISC) monitors the national and educational press in order to keep independent schools up-to-date with relevant education news. The DNS is a service primarily for schools in membership of ISC associations, although other interested parties can choose to sign-up. We endeavour to include relevant news and commentary and, wherever possible, notable public letters. Where capacity allows, we may include links to ISC blogs, press statements and information about school or association events. News stories are selected based on their relevance to the independent sector as a whole. Editorial control of the DNS remains solely with the ISC.

Sign-up to the email service is available on our website.

Members can contact the ISC if they know in advance of news, letters or opinions that are likely to feature in the media, or are aware of existing coverage which they would like to see featured in the DNS.

Headlines and first-line summaries are written by the ISC with the link directing to the source material. You should read and comply with the terms and conditions of the websites to which we link.